Improvement in machines for topping cotton jn the field



A. A. DICKSON.

Cotton Harvster Patented Oct. 4, 1853.

Usirrnn STATES PATENT wri ten,

A. A. DIOKSON, OF enirrin, GEORGIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR TOPPING COTTON .IN THI-I FIELD.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 0,065, dated October 4,1853.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, A. A. DICKSON, ot'Grif- (in, in the county ofSpaulding and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Machinefor Topping Cotton and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exactdescription ofthe same, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawings,tbrining part of this specification, in which-Figure l is a side elevation of the machine as it appears when theoperation of topping is being performed. Fig. 2 is a plan or birdseyeview of the same. Fig. 3 is a front view of the windlass and itsattachments for raising and lowering the horizontal cutters.

Similar letters of reference in each of the several figures indicatecorresponding parts.

My invention relates to a new method or mannerof toppingcotton bymachinery, whereby the operation of topping cotton, .which is necessaryto cause the stalk to yield more abundantly, can be performed in a morespeedy and better manner than by the old plan, the operator beingenabled to top two rows at one time as fastas he may see proper to walkor run, and to perform six or eight times the amount of work in the sametime as is now accomplished with the knife in the hand; and itconsistsin the employment of two sets of cutters, one set being securedhorizontally on a vertical revolving shaft over the center of themachine, so as to cut off the top of the cotton, and the other set beingarranged vertically on a horizontal revolving shaft at the back end ofthe machine or just behind the propellingwheel, so as to lop off theends of the branches which lap acrossthe middle of the row. These twosets of cutters are made to revolve by the motion ofthepropelling-wheel. This wheel is connected to the set which revolveshorizontally by means of a band which passes from a small rim-pulleyformed on one side of the propelling-wheel, and passes over a smallpulley which is attached to a large bevel-wheel secured fast on arevolving horizontal shaft placed across the center of the frame of themachine. This bevel-wheel works into a small pinion secured fast on thevertical revolving shaft of the horizontal cutters, and therebycommunicates a horizontal motion to the said cutters. The d riving-wheelis also connected to the set which revolves in a vertical direction bymeans of another band passing from a rimpulley on the other side of thepropelling-wheel and round a pulley secured fast on the horizontalrevolving shaft of the vertical cutters. The horizontal blades orcutters are made adjustable both in height and length,so that they canbe made to suit the different heights of the cotton-plant, and also thedifferent widths of the rows.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use myinventiomlwillproceed to describe its construction and operation.

A A A represent the frame of the machine, the principal portion of whichis constructed after the form of a wheelbarrow, as shown in 7 Figs. 1and 2, it having a propelling-wheel,B, secured fast on the revolvingshaft 0, which is arranged on the rear part of the machine, and istrundled along between the cotton-rows like a wheelbarrow. The wheel Bfor propelling the machine forward, and also operating both sets ofcutters, has a small rim-pulley, D, formed on each of its sides.

E E F F are the two sets of blades or cutters, E E indicating thehorizontal set and F F the vertical set. The vertical set is securedfast in the revolving shaft H, which is secured in that portion of theframe lettered A, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This part of the frame ison therear of the part A, and the cutters are consequently behind thewheel B. On the shaft H there is a pulley, I, from which a band, U,passes, and connects with the rimpulley D, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.This band, by being connected with the drivingwheel, causes the knives FF to revolve in a vertical direction as the machine is propelledforward, and consequently tor lop off the ends of the branches which maylap'across the middle of the row. The arms ccof the horizontal set aresecured fast in a movable sliding cap, J, which fits over the squarepart of the revolving shaft- K, and is moved up and down over the same,when it is desired to change the height of the cutters, by means of thewindlass L, which is secured in the part A of the frame. as shown inFig. 3. The cord 01 of this Windlass is attached to the cap J in themanner shown in Fig. 1, or in any suitable manner. The wini'llass-shaftis kept permanently fixed after the cutters have been raised to theposition shown in red lines in Fig. 1, and the cord wound on the saidshaft by means of two vertical spiral springs, f j, which are securedfast to the shaft L and attached to the ping the cotton and lopping offthe ends which top of the frame A as shown in Fig. 3. These springseffectually prevent the shaft moving after being set.

The horizontal cutters E E may be made adjustable in width either byset-screws or otherwise. In Fig. l of the drawings the cutters are shownsecured in arms 0 o by setscrews, so that they can be moved in and outto suit the different widths of the rows of cotton. These cutters arealso set in motion at the same time that the vertical cutters are by theaction of the propelling-wheel, and through the band m, which passesover the pulley-rim I) and over the small pulley 'n, which is securedfast on the revolving horizontal shaft 0, near the center of themachine, and to a large bevel-wheel, M, which gears in a small pinion,12, secured on the cutter-shaft K in the manner shown in Fig. 1.

Both sets of cutters might be driven, if desired, by cogged instead ofband gearing.

This machine will perform the work of topbend over the rows in the mostperfect manner, itis thought, and as it can be made cheap and light andcan be managed by one man its value and utility, it is presumed, will bereadily seen and appreciated.

Having thus described the nature and operation of my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The employment of two sets of cutters, E E and F F, one set beingadjustable and revolving in a horizontal direction, and the other beingfixed and revolving in a vertical direc tion, and both sets being set inoperation through the action of the driving or propelling wheel B in anymanner equivalent to that herein shown and described, and for thepurpose herein specified.

A. A. DIUKSON.

Witnesses:

I. S. SIMMONS, E. W. RHoADs.

